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CU-Boulder THTR 3011 - Notes for Test 1

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2Development of the American MusicalEuropean antecedentsAncient Greek Theatre- Major influence for ALL Western theatre- Spectacle-masks- Introduction of the chorus- chanting, voice of the people help set tone, exposition, introduce characters, judge characters, question things happening around themChoral songs which comment on the action/voice of the peopleChoral danceSo We thinkOperaDramatic works usually tragic, primarily sung (arias and recitative) with orchestral accompaniment, opulent staging. Mythical creatures, royalty, highly trained, grand costumesBallad Opera “weird al”- Used popular tunes with rewritten lyrics- Written about the lower class- Spoken dialogue instead of recitative - Satirical Operetta “little opera”- Comic or romantic plots - Dialogue instead of recitative (usually)- Happy endings - Simple plots but still required virtuosity from performers - Presentational acting style- directly to the audience o 2 styles of action- presentational vs. representational (in moment in scene, wall betweenaudience and characters)(operetta)Sir W.S. Gilbert (lyricist/librettist)Sir Arthur Sullivan (composer)-Patter song- lots of lyrics sung quickly for comic effect -Introduced (main 2 types in all theatre)- Reflective song- thinks about moment/situation reflects on it - Active song- character undergoes significant transformation during course of the songMelodrama “music drama” Before Minstrelsy most popular form of entertainment- Spoken text, action has musical underscoring- Stock characters, one dimensional know who is good/bad- Simple morality/poetic justice- good comes to those who are good - Contrived plot- The Black Crook 1866 “the 1st musical” Charles M. Barress Melodrama+ballerinas (music, words, movement)- Troop of ballerinas into the melodrama- Made over a million dollars- extremely successfulAmerican OperettaVictor Herbert- Dominant composer of the early American stage- Musical versatility -Naughty Marietta-most famous - Conductor AND composer AND orchestrator Minstrelsy- Began in early 19th century - White male performers in black face - 1846 “Christie Minstels”o Mr. Tams(tambourines)/ Mr. Bones(percussion)/ Mr. Interlocutor(straight man)- Negative stereotypes of racial/ethnic minorities - Most popular form of entertainment from 1850-1870o Georgia minstrels- AA put on own showo Creole show- added women- Legacy- folk music, gospel, blues, tap danceRevues:A series of songs and sketches linked by a theme- Work of one individual or might be compilation of works by numerous artists - Florenz Ziegfeld Jr (1867-1932) father of revueso Most successful and influential producer of the earliest 20th century o Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. found SANDOW- worlds 1st sex object 1893 World’s Fair  “muscle display performances” Discovers sex sells- leads to the follies The Follies Very sexualized, tame version of French show o Names after the French Folies Bergeres Grandiose production numbers Novelty acts Sketches  Tableau vivant- life size replications of famous paintings of naked or half naked women- curtain up and then curtain down- gets around the censors o Glorifying the American girl*- he wasn’t trying to sexualize the American girl he was trying to celebrate themMore on Florenz- impresario- “star maker”- Ziegfeld Theatre – build own theatre in NY- Stock market crash lost everything - Ziegfeld hires Williams, Huge hit and controversyo “Shuffling coon”o Signature Number “nobody”- famous successful guy but when he walks the streets no one knows him b/c of his race “cellophane”- BERT WILLIAMSo One of the most popular comedians of all time o Began in vaudeville and minstrel shows o In Dahomey 1st full length broadway musical written and performed entirely by African Americans Broadway 2000+ seats vs. off broadway 500-1999 off off = less than 500 seats Tin pan alley- cacophony of sound - West 28th st. between Broadway and 6th avenue - 1903 most music publishers were located on this block - Song Plugger: “used car salesman” play songs and try to get producers/singers to buy sheet music - Stooge: “plant” they would listen in on the songs and act like they were producers and say “ that song is so catchy I love it” they would also do the same in night clubs Vaudeville- Series of unrelated acts, a variety show “america’s got talent”- Immigrant entertainment (European) acrobats, sword swallowero Appealed to non-english speakerso Negative stereotypes of minority groups- negative stereotypes of eastern Europeans but that was their audience, they laughed at themselves- felt like they were part of the “conversation” o 1890-1920 most popular form of entertainment in US (family friendly version)o Hard life conditions, pay very little, travel, no protection for workers - Tony Pastor “Father of Vaudeville” made it family friendly o Opens first theater for “family trade” in 1865o Cheap tickets so families could comeo “turns”= (vaudeville term for actso The “circuit”= acts travel across the country on circuits George M. Cohan got his start in vaudeville only performer to have a statue in time square - Very patriotic, glorified the US- Father of American Musical theatre- Joined the family act with sister Josie- successful performance teamo Played fiddle and dance, completely self-taught Known as the four cohan’s (the full family)- Always ended with waving American flags and a patriot song- Passion: patriotism Religion: show businessFirst musical he made Little Johnny Jones plot= horse jockey from san fran goes to London to race in derby says bye to gf but she goldie gates secretly follows him to London to spy on him. Anthony Ancy tries to blackmale johnny jones but he refuses, but he ends up losing the race anyway. Rumors that he lost the race on purpose. He hires detective to figure out who is spreading rumors, Anthony spreads rumors. He goes back to US to get goldie gates but she has been kidnapped by Anthony eventually finds and marries her- Filled with pro- American references - He did it all- composer, lyricist, librettist, director, producer and the star - “the Yankee”- “you’re a grand old flag” 1st to sell a million copies of sheet music- “yankee doodle dandy”- “give my regards to broadway”- “over there”Jerome Kern Father of the American musical theatre


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CU-Boulder THTR 3011 - Notes for Test 1

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